Foldable crate.



'ETT.B0ND. FOLDABLE CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED OOTJQ, 1910.

1,085,590, Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

coLUMBxA PLANDURAPH c0.,w^sHxNaToN. D. c.

bers and 11 of the supplementary frameV off-center in its relation to the sections of' the divided support, so that when the support is vertical, the pivot and ears 14 furnish a locking means for holding the divided support vertical or upright.

The lower end of the member or rod 10 and the upper end of the member or rod 11 have an eye 17, by means of which, and a staple 18 or other suitable means, the ends of the divided support 10 and 11 are flexibly united respectively to the bottom and top of the crate or receptacle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to permit of the inward folding of the supplemental support. The remaining sides of the crate or receptacle are each formed by means of cross rods or strands 19, secured to the members of the supplemental support by staples 20 or in any other suitable manner, so that when the crate is in its elevated or unfolded position, as shown in Fig. 1, it will have four sides formed by rods or strands supported by the corner posts 'or standards and by the supplemental supports, as shown in Fig. 1.

The top of the crate, in the construction shown, is formed by side strips 21, of wood or other suitable material, and cross-rods 22 united to the cross strips by staples 23, or lin any other suitable manner. The upper end of each member or section 4 of the divided corner posts or standards, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is iiexibly attached to the rails or strips of the top or cover by means of a trunnion 6, a coil spring 7 with the ends 8 of the coil wire attached to the post or standard by staples 9 or otherwise, in the same manner as the lower end of each divided st-andard or post is flexiblyv attached to the bottom of the crate or receptacle. The divided standards or posts, each united at the top and bottom by a flexible connection furnished by the coil spring, allow of the requisite yield in the central folding and unfolding of the posts or standards in raising the crate or placing the crate in a folded condition.

The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 employs the corner foldable standards or pos-ts and the supplemental support of the crate of Figs. 1 and 2, but the supplemental support is operated in a slightly different manner, as to the locking means for holding the two members or sections of the support in the elevated position. The two members or sections of the supplemental support are `f1exibly unitedV respectively to the'top and bottom of the crate or receptacle by means Vof a coil 24, one end 25 of the wire of the coil being inserted and fastened in the bottom and top strip of the crate or receptacle and the other end 26 of the wire coil being united to the end of the section of the divided support by staples 27 or otherwise, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The coil or spring connection 24 furnishes a flexible conneci tion for the divided supplemental support, the same as the springs 7 furnish a iieXible connection for the corner standards or posts, so that the two members or parts 10 and 11 of the supplemental support can fold with the folding of the crate or receptacle, as shown in Fig. 4.

The upper end of the lower frame orV member 10 of the supplemental support, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is encircled by an eye 28 on the end of a rod 29, the other end of which has an eye 30 through which passes a pivot pin 31 uniting the rod 29 to an ear 32 on a socket 33 mounted on a sliding rod 34 slidably mounted on the bottom of the crate or receptacle, and held in position by staplesior eyes 35 or-in any other suitable manner, so as to be free to slide longitudinally. The lower end of the upper frame or member 11 of the supplemental support, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4, is encircled by an eye 36 on a rod 37, the other end of which has an eye 38 through which passes a pin or pivot 39 uniting the rod to an ear 40 on a suitable socket 41 fixedly mounted on a slidable rod 42, which is movably held in place by links or eyes 43 encircling a rod 44 attached to the frame strips of the top or cover of the crate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The two members 10 and 11 of the divided frame or support of Figs. 3 and 4 swing inward from their flexible connection at the top and bottom when the crate is folded, and swing outward from the spring connection when `the crate is unfolded. The central inward swing of the members of the divided frame or support is permitted by rods 29 and 37, and the slidable connection for these rods with the bottom and top of the crate or receptacle. The slidable connection is also one which, when the crate is raised or unfolded, furnishes a lock for the entire crate against collapsing or falling down with ordinary usage, as the bind between the sliding rods 34 and 43 and the supports for these rods is suiiicient to fur` nish a lock against the inward swing of the divided frame or support at the center, holding the divided frame or support in its vertical position and sustaining the crate or receptacle in its elevated or unfolded shape.

The construction ofthe crate or receptacle of the present invention is one which permits the crate or'receptacle to be unfolded :and folded byaraising iandfilowering. the' cor.- f

l Lone which@` .neivposts or standards, Whichifold-.centrally `inwind,- and .at the same time .-.the .divided supplementah support isffreesto .svvingfin-` Ward on its pivotalwconnection Orton-the sliding@ rods .or braces,- so i that.l the .strands lor Wires formingthesides lothe zoraterorre- Veeptacle rare carried downward in the fiiold- .ing `1op eration. as. shown in Egs. 2 "and-At, -and l are carried a zuptvard l .in the unfolding operf ation as shoivngin :or' receptacle is none which cana-be :readily Figs. l `and 3. The crate' handled :in unfolding .and lfolding, land. :at the .sa-me time the.` constiaiction.` is ref afnature to furnish a: strongncrate..orreceptaele and handled. L The' divided eornerposts .ort-standardsain- 4is exceedingly light andA easily steadeotbeing connected at theeupper yland =lowen endbyt a. iexiflole-L spring connection, fcanvbei attached to 'the .-frails .of .the-.bottom .and top` .-otheferate bywmeans of-.stapleshor eyes .4.52 driven4 Linton the ends @t the" divided lposts for standards,...andenteredf an. staplesor eyes 4G driven. yinto l .thef .railsbottoni, :-as-` shown .der the, term flexible .eis included acoill or i Yloop connection. whichi Will permit a.

yield -or play that'. will. .allow ot a. foldingE of the f posts andE support-s ati their-.top and :bottom connections.

g It-is-tosbe noted.:l that the construction .and

.arrangement ofsthe sides Eoff.theforateiortreiceptacle :of the .present einven-tion 1sV one'. in

which -allfour. sides lare. supported. by -foldable: members,

's o that .thesupporting members .can swing: inward, .carrying with: .them 4the-strands vor stripsfrorming the fourfsides 'of the erate.. or. receptacle t :and: it-:is .evident f that thestrands .could-abe `made of ivi-ref or strip-S .ofmetalorother. vmaterial .of a natu-re toal-loiv of. the folding [and unfolding. of the sides of. the erate tor. reeeptacle--byoloivening i and. .raising the i `.divided cornerpposts-or standards and the divided 11.-.supplemental `"frames -.or. supports.

. The advantagespertaining; to the-,crate ror receptacle. of the` fpresentf .invention .are Iap parent, .and-:need not be .,descrlbedfin-` detail. l

Suffice' it .to-.say that theterate can-.be readily and quickly :unfolded: Aand .folded, .is `very strong :and durable,.1and atfthewsame time light .and .easily handled; Iand When folded can..be.stored .away aandaocoupy-but a small space in a roomor ,other.storing.place.. It is` not the yintent-ion4 4to limit, ..restrict, restrain., or. confinen the .mechanism in.v .these devices for. use. .in .foldableeratea and under the .Word trate .isiincludedeqopsftfor chickens, .crates for the..a transportation. .of berries,4 vegetables or .otherV commodities, re-` ceptaeles, carrying .cases .forgegga .folding boxes, easesvor .crates .for Fthe. delivery .of packages. or bundles commonly. put. up .in grocery stores, meat markets and other retail foldahle. 1 from .,its lower ends. ofnthe.1 strands #stores e finoanyv general :merchandise line of packages to -.custo1ners,. patrons .and con-- sumers.

Thesfoldable cratenor receptacle of -the `.present linvention -hastwo opposite sidesy centrally ,and inwardly foldablei erossvvise. of. the yerateaor reeeptacle,.eandv the tvvoiremaining oppositesidescentrally and inwardly Jfold- .able lengthwise of the Grate or receptacle. Tivo of. the oppositesides foonsist of divided `corneryposts or standards suit-ably hinged Vtogether. so as to fold Linwardly-.at thel center, .and connected. at-Ithe-.top'and bot-tomJ by a `springer .other form..of..loose hinge tothe .bottomfandto-p l.of= the .era-te .or receptacle. The two remainingfsides ofthefcratepr receptacleconsist'fofs a Vdivided. supplemental support .for each side, 'either with 4or With- `out bracing means foreach :memberwor section of. the support. l Thetcrate is completed means otstrands connected vto. the `divided posts for. standards. .andto the: ydivided sup- .plementallframeor.=.stipport, and under the terni strand isr-includedz atvvire, a smallasmallfbareor' a twisted sized rod,- aistrip.,

form: of. connecting: means;

strand .or other.

rand; it is tombe. understood that i the y strand can be ,oi- .vario-us shapes .in cross-section` suchas round, oval, square,V rectangular,triangular, .or ether-shape..

The. .gist fot.. the `present :invention is in constrnctingy .theorate orreceptaole` with all four of its sides centrallyiand inwardly foldable, tivo ofthe sides oldableain theopposite direction. to. thefclding of the other two sides, and .having...all1four sideskcompleted by. means foiistrands, .thereby yi-urnishing a crate which ivill :be light,..strong.and durable., andivhichpan befoldedin acompaet shape` HWhenmot in use.

That Ielaim asnew by. Letters'datent is ,1.1, In afoldablecratepthe combination of a -bottom, a. topf four. corner. posts,.one` post for..;each.corner .of tl1e.crate,.-each post ccnsisting. oftwo sectionsjointedlat the center onetolthe .other-.and adapted to .fold centrallynndl inwardly-each post also. inwardly end,1. a `series V.of 115 spacedzapart crossfstrands carriedby each tivo...of1.the. .divided corner. posts, with the .entered .into the `posts `andfthe strands...located-` Within the edge plane .ofthe posts,.four. divided supports, 120 one..support:.adjacent to-..each corner post, each .support centrally. and xinivardly foldable...at. the" y.division line iand each support also inward` oldable. from? `its lower` end,` the folding off the supports-being.atright.angles 125 to the4 foldingfofl the corner .'posts, Vand a series .ofE spaced apart cross-strands carried by each. tivo nf" the rdivided supports,` the? Cros strandsI :of the `supports .runningy -at Yright angles to the cross-strands of the posts and L30 and desire tor secure Vthe four corner posts, the four supports and yieldable connection for each post with the' bottom of the crate for the post to fold inwardly from its lower end, a series of spaced apart cross-strands carried by each two of the divided corner posts, with the ends ot' the strands entered into the posts and the strands located within the edge plane of the posts, the four divided corner posts and the two series of cross-strands forming two opposite toldable sides of the crate, four divided supports, each support flexibly connected at its upper end with the top of the crate and each support flexibly connected at its lower end with the bottom of the crate, and adapted to fold centrally inward between its top and bottom connections, the folding of the supports being at right angles to the folding of the corner posts, and a series of spaced apart crossstrands carried by each two of the divided supports, the two series of cross-strands and the four divided supports formingthe other two opposite foldable sides of the crate, substantially as described.

ln a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, a top, four corner posts, one post for each corner of the crate, each post divided midway of its length and provided at the division line with a hinged connection for the post to fold centrally inward, a coil spring connecting each post at its upper end with the top of the crate, a coil spring connecting each post at its lower end with the bottom of the crate, the coil springs permitting each divided post to inwardly fold between the bottom and top of the crate, a series of cross-strands spaced apart and carried by each two of the divided corner posts, with the ends of the strands entered into the posts and the strands located within the edge plane of the posts, the four divided corner posts and the two series of crossstrands formingtwo opposite foldable sides of the crate, four divided supports, one support located adjacent to each corner post, a coil spring connecting each divided support at its upper end with the top of the crate, a coil spring connecting each divided support at its lower end with the bottom of the cra-te, the coil springs permitting; each divided support to fold inwardly between the top and bottom of the crate, and in a direct-ion at right angles to the inward folding of the corner posts, a series of cross-strands spaced apart and carried by each two ot' the divided supports, the two series of cross-strands and the four divided supports forming the other two oppposite sides of the crate, substantially as described.

e. In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, a top, two opposite sides of the crate, each side inwardly and downwardly foldable, four corner posts, one post for each corner of the crate, each post divided midway of its length and provided at the division line with a hinged connection for the post to told centrally inward, a flexible connection for each post at its upper end with the top of the crate, a flexible connection for each post at its lower end with the bottom of the crate, the flexible connections permitting each divided post to inwardly fold between the top and bottom of the crate, and a series of cross-strands spaced apart and carried by each two of the divided corner posts, the :tour divided corner posts and the two series of cross-strands forming two remaining opposite foldable sides of the crate, substantially as described.

5. In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, a top, two opposite sides of the crate, each side inwardly and downwardly foldable, four divided supports, one support located adjacent to each corner of the crate, each divided support connected at its adjoining ends to fold centrally inward, a flexible connection for each Vdivided sup port at its upper end with the top of the crate, a flexible connection for each divided support at its lower end with the bottom of the crate, the flexible connection permitting each divided support to fold inwardly between the top and bottom of the crate, and a series of cross-strands spaced apart and carried by each two of the divided supports, the four divided supports and the two series of cross-strands forming' two remaining opposite foldable sides of the crate, substanp tially as described.

6. In a foldable crate, the combination of a bottom, a top, four divided corner posts, one for each corner of the crate, a series of spacedapart cross strands for each tw'o ot the divided corner posts, four dividedV supports, one'support located adjacent to each corner of the crate, and outside of. the cross strands of the corner posts, each divided suppcrt adapted to fold centrally inward, a connection tor each divided support at its upper end with the top of the crate, a connection for each divided support at its lower end with the bottom of the crate, the connections permitting each divided support to told inwardly between the top and bottom of the crate, and a series of crossstrands spaced apart and carried by each two of the divided supports, the four divided corner posts, the four divided supports and 4the four sei-ies of cross-strands forming the four oldable sides of the crate, substantially as described.

7. In a foldable crate, the Combination of a bottom, a top, four divided corner posts, one for each Corner of the crate, four divided corner supports, each yieldably conneeted at its upper and lower end with the top and bottom of the crate, and each adapted to fold Centrally inward, and means for 10 locking the supports and maintaining the supports and posts in their vertical position, substantially as described.

EDGAR T. BOND.

Witnesses:

A. L. PARSONS, D. T. PARSONS.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

